Mother Nature is doing no favors for more than 100 firefighters battling a massive blaze near Fort Greely, which has now doubled in size after heavy winds from a thunder cell provided unwanted fuel.
The Oregon Lakes Fire had grown to 12,904 acres by Thursday, according to a statement from the federal Bureau of Land Management's Alaska Fire Service. A total of 128 personnel and four crews have been assigned to fight the human-caused fire which started April 30, at a cost to date of more than $775,000. Last week, fire crews were hindered by unexploded ordnance in Fort Greely's Donnelly Training Area, where the blaze has been burning.
"Yesterday, erratic winds from passing thunderstorms drove the fire north where crews were working with heavy equipment to extend the firebreak west of Douglas Creek," Fire Service officials wrote. "Retardant air tankers from Palmer and Fairbanks kept the advancing fire in check allowing firefighters and heavy equipment to safely redirect their firebreak construction along the winter trail."